Mon December 31, 2012

What You Need to Know About 'Austin's New Year 2013' Event (Update)

Update: Despite some rain in the forecast for this evening, the City of Austin’s New Year’s Eve event at Auditorium Shores is a go. At least for now.

The city says as long as the skies stick to rain and drizzle and not high winds and thunderstorms… the live music, activities and fireworks will happen.

“Bring your ponchos, bring your umbrellas, bring a lawn chair. But if it’s a little drizzle-y we will hopefully still have an event and still have some fireworks for everybody to enjoy," City of Austin spokesperson Samantha Park says.

Park says decisions to delay or cancel activities and events will happen throughout the day. Keep an ear on KUT and an eye on social media for updates.

Original Post (9:33 a.m.): Well the world didn’t end, but 2012 is about to. Here’s what the City of Austin is doing to ring in 2013.

The city's Austin’s New Year (ANY) celebration kicks off at 5 p.m. The third annual free, family-friendly festival will be held at Auditorium Shores. The event features live music all evening from local acts like Del Castillo and Mobley, as well as art, film, and of course, fireworks. The fireworks show starts at 10 p.m. and will be accompanied by a traditional Scottish pipe & drum band. For more information, check out the City of Austin’s ANY website.

The city is closing some roads around Lady Bird Lake for the ANY celebration. Riverside from South First Street to Lee Barton Drive will be closed from 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Cesar Chavez Street will be closed or partially closed from Mopac to South First Street beginning at 9 p.m. The South First Street Bridge will also be closed. For a full list of road closures and restricted public access, visit the City of Austin Transportation Department’s ANY website.

There won’t be onsite parking available at Auditorium shores, but there will be some pay-to-park garages nearby. City Hall and the One Texas Center will both offer parking. No parking or public access will be available in the surrounding neighborhoods.